Carrier and package assembly



Jan. 21, 1964 B. G. COPPING 3,118,537

CARRIER AND PACKAGE ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FlG.| 4 j 22 INVENTOR. BRUCE c. COPPING ATT YS.

Jan. 21, 1964 go 3,118,537

CARRIER AND PACKAGE ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FIGS BRUCE G. CQPPING BY (L ell llama fldAd ATTYS.

Jan. 21, 1964 B. e. COPPING CARRIER AND PACKAGE ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 2'7, 1962 1m um FIG.7

INVENTOR.

BRUCE G. COPPING BY/ 1 J m/m- ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,118,537 CARRIER AND PACKAGE ASSEMBLY Bruce G. Capping, Akron, Ohio, assignor to Atlrron, inc,

on, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 176,029 7 Claims. (Cl. 26665) This invention relates to carrier and package assemblies, and particularly to such assemblies and to packaging means for a plurality of cylindrical articles, such as cans.

In the past several years, there has been a strong trend in the beer and soft drink industries to otter products to the market in small, easily carried cartons usually consisting of a number of bottles or cans, usually six, grouped together for convenient sale and transport. These cartons or packaged assemblies are attractive, easy to carry packages that have contributed greatly to sales of various beverages. These cartons are generally referred to as six-packs, and will be referred to in such manner hereinafter.

It will be realized that these six-pack cartons are used in very large numbers in the beverage industry, as it is much easier to transport and use six bottles or cans rather than a whole case of a beverage. The use of cans rather than bottles in these six-packs has been increasing because of the durability of the cans, as well as for other reasons.

One problem that does exist with many of these cartons or packages is that they have used some type of a wraparound band of paperboard to form the carton, and such carton has to have some appreciable strength to package the cans until the time of use. Hence when one wishes to take an article from the carton, it is sometimes quite difficult for the average housewife to tear or cut a portion from the carton or package to expose the contents thereof.

Yet another problem that exists in many of these cartons is that the contents of the cartons are not exposed and the contents of the carton have to be pictorially illustrated on the sides or top of the carton and this naturally adds to the cost of the carton, as Well as still not positively identifying the contents of the carton.

Another problem that exists in packaging or providing cartons for cylindrical articles such as cans having chime or head rings around the ends of the cans is that these chime rings do not abut against each other in the carton and will bear on the body of the adjacent can intermediate the top and bottom thereof. Hence in transporting the package around, the chime rings of adjacent cans may be knocked against each other and the can bodies repeatedly and the cans may be bent or otherwise darn aged by these chime rings being out of vertical alignment with each other and bearing on the relatively weak body of the can. Cans today are made from relatively lightweight tiu plate or aluminum, and they usually have some type of a lacquer coating on their inner surface to protect the contents of the can from direct contact with the metal forming the can. Any dent or other impression formed in the smooth surface of the can wall usually will crack this lacquer and may cause contamination of the beverage in the can by direct contact with the metal of the can forming material.

It is the general object of the present invention to providean improved, novel carrier and package assembly for a plurality of cylindrical objects, such as cans, and wherein the assembly is characterized by its production from a top paperboard element combined with a wrap around band of shrinkable plastic film, or other equivalent material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paperboard top element for a packaging or carton assembly "ice wherein pairs of dependent flanges are provided in the top element and slots are formed in such flanges for engaging the top chimes of cylindrical articles, such as cans, for holding the cans with the chimes thereof in horizontally aligned relationship.

Another object of the invention is to provide a thin inexpensive top element in a carton or packaging assembly wherein cylindrical articles in the carton assembly are engaged with such top element in a positive manner and where an encompassing band is applied to the assembly of the top element and packaged containers or cans for retaining them in fixed, unitary packaged assembly.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a strong, dependable means for lifting and carrying a sixpack carton of cans, or the like.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Attention is now particularly directed to the accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a top plan of a paperboard blank such as can be used in forming a carrier and package assembly according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carrier and package assembly embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through the upper portion of the carrier and package assembly of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan of the top member of the carrier and package assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the top member of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end elevation of the top element of FIGS. 5 and 6; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings and referred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison therebetween.

Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a carrier and package assembly, and to the means used for forming such carrier and package assembly, the assembly including the combination of a plurality of cylindrical articles, such as cans, having laterally protruding top chime rings thereon and usually arranged in two rows of longitudinally abutted articles, a top member having a pair of dependent edge flanges and a pair of dependent center flanges all having center axes parallel to each other and with each edge flange inner margin spaced slightly less than the chime diameter of the articles from the outer margins of the center flanges of the top member, which center and edge flanges have pairs of opposed horizontal slots therein at such margins spaced longitudinally from each other a distance substantiallyequai to the diameter of a cylindrical article at its chime ring, each of the articles engaging a pair of the slots by its top chime ring to be secured to the top member thereby, and retaining means that tightly engage the top member and its edge flanges to secure such top member and its flanges drawn against the articles to form a unitary packaging and carrier carton therefrom.

attention now is particularly directed to the details of the accompanying drawings, and a top member or sheet member 1 illustrated preferably is made from some light weight, inexpensive but fairly sturdy material such as paperboard, cardboard, or equivalent materials. The top member 1 has a plurality of parallel, longitudinally ex tending fold lines 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 provided therein, indicated in dotted lines in the accompanying drawing and normally extending the length of the top member. The

fold lines 2 and 6 are adapted to provide downwardly extending edge flanges 7 and 8 on the top member 1 and a roughly or generally V-shaped downwardly extending center section 9 is formed in the top member, and usually requiring additional lateral compression when operatively positioned, which center section comprises center flanges, or walls it? and 11 formed integrally with the top member 1.

As an important feature of the invention, in forming the top member 1, a plurality of slits, or cuts 12 are formed in and extend through the sheet forming the top member 1 adjacent each of the fold lines 2, 3, and 6 so that when the edge flanges 7 and 8 are in their normal dependent positions, and the walls and 11 extend downwardly from the general plane of the top member 1, pairs of longitudinally spaced, horizontal slots 13, 13; 14, 14 and 15, 15 are provided in longitudinally spaced portions of the edge flange 8 and the adjacent wall 11 of the center section. Similar slots and pairs of slots are formed in the edge flange 7 and the center wall 10. Normally the top member 1 is formed from a flat, or planar material and with the sheet from which it is formed having the fold lines 2 to 6 and slits or cuts provided therein by conventional operations. These slots 13 through 15 are spaced longitudinally of the top member 1 a distance equal to the chime ring diameter of cylindrical articles, such as cans 16, with which the top member 1 is to be engaged. Such cans 16 have upper chimes, or chime rings 17 and lower chimes or chime rings 18 provided thereon, and the slots 13, 13 and other pairs of slots provided in the top member 1 and portions thereof are spaced from each other a distance slightly shorter than the diameter of the upper chime ring 17 on each of the cans 16. As hereinafter described in more detail, these slots 13, 13; 14, 14 and 15, 15 and equivalents provided in the top member are adapted to have the upper chime rings 17 on all of the cans with which the top member 1 is to be associated actually mechanically engaged or interlocked with the slots by the chime rings extending through portions of each of the slots when the top member is operatively positioned. The slots have lower edges 13a, 14a and 15a, respectively, formed therein spaced from the lower surface or plane defined by the top member 1 a distance only slightly longer than the vertical thickness of the chime rings 17 to engage the lower edges of the chime rings. This aids materially in providing a good 'mechanical hold on the cans 16 by the top member and greatly facilitates forming a sturdy carrier and display carton or packaging assembly therefrom.

As yet a further feature of the top member 1, thumb or finger engaging apertures 19 and 20 are provided in the top member 1 when it is being processed prior to opera- .tive positioning thereof. FIG. 1 of the drawings shows "how cantilever extending sections 21 and 22 are formed on the center wall 10 adjacent a mid section thereof and extending in opposite directions therefrom, whereas similar cantilever extending sections 23 and 24 are provided on the center wall 11. As indicated in various figures of the drawings, such as FIGS. 4 and 5, when the top member 1 is operatively positioned, these sections 21 through 24 are of generally arcuate shape to project from the center portion of the center walls 10 and 11 and with any vertical section of these sections 21 through 24 lying in a vertical plane and usually abutting against the edge portions of the apertures 19 and 20. In all events, enlarged force transmitting areas or portions are provided in the top member when operatively positloned. This avoids cutting a persons finger or thumb when engaged with one of the six-pack carrier or package assemblies of the invention, or else avoids excessively stressing small edge areas of the apertures 19 and 20 for convenient transport of a group of cylindrical articles.

Attention now is directed to the showing of a carrier and package assembly 25, FIG. 2, that illustrates the principles of the present invention and where such assembly 25 is made from the top member 1, six of the cylindrical cans 16, and a transparent plastic band 26.

The carrier and packageassembly 25 can be formed in any suitable manner by machines or manually, or in other manners, and initially the top member 1 would be placed over three cans of each of two adjacent longitudinally abutted rows of cans. The transparent plastic envelope 26 next would be formed and brought in to encompass the assembly of the top member 1 and cans 16 and then, for instance, such envelopes 26 may have heat applied thereto to heat shrink the envelope 26 down into tight engagement with the cans and top member. Such shrinkage of the envelope 26 brings it into snug engagement with the upper surface of the top member 1 and the edge flanges 7 and 5 thereof to draw such flanges downwardly against the sides of the cans 16 and to draw the lower chime rings 18 into abutment. The envelope 26 will extend around the bottoms of the cans 16, and such envelope, which normally is of about the length of the top member 1, will also extend at least partially around the exposed end portions of the end ones of the cans 16 in a carton, as best indicated at 126 in FIG. 2. Also, the plastic sheet forming the envelope or band 26 is drawn against the curved peripheral surfaces of the cans 16 in the carton, or carrier and package assembly 25, below the edge flanges 7 and 8, particularly at the lower ends of the sides of the cans as indicated at 30 and 31. This holds such cans against longitudinal movement with relation to the top member 1, and also secures the lower chimes 18 of the cans together. The envelope or band 26 can be made from any of a variety of well known heat-shrinkable plastic materials, such as polyvinyl chloride, or other similar materials. These films are usually quite thin and can be, for example, about one half or one thousandths of an inch thick, but yet they have sufficient strength to form a sturdy enclosure. The films have been stretched bi-axially and have a plastic memory so that when they are subjected to temperatures of approximately 300 F., they will rapidly shrink in all directions to form a tightly stretched skin over the paperboard top member and the cans to cling thereto and form a carrier assembly.

It should be realized that the top member 1 can be blanked from suitable paperboard, cardboard, or the like, or it may even be molded to shape from a plastic. When blanked from a paperboard material, after the fold lines 2 through 6 have been provided therein and the slitting or cutting operations performed, the center section and the Walls 10 and 11 thereof will be retained in a downwardly extending condition with the walls 10 and 11 making angles of, for instance, about 30 to the Vertical. Likewise, the edge flanges 7 and 8 are shaped to extend down loosely over the upper chime rings 17 of the cans 16. At such time, the slots 13 through 15 provided in the top member are of sufficient size and are so spaced with relation to'each other, as to slip over the chimes of the cans. The lower edges 13a, 14a and 15a of these slots, as previously indicated, will press snugly in underneath the chimes, as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4, especially when the top member is fully operatively positioned. In this initial position, the top member 1 will cling quite firmly to the cans 16 even prior to the actual banding of the envelope 26 therearound. The cans usually could not be safely lifted by the top member at that time, but the engagement of the cans and top member is retained while the envelope is being formed around and ultimately shrunk onto the cans 16.

FIG. 3 of the drawings shows that the walls 10 and 11 in their operative positions are in nearly vertical positions so that the thickness of these inner walls plus their natural resilient bending along their common fold line forces them outwardly against the body of the cans. Hence in the final assembled package or carton, the lower edges of the can retaining slots are locked in under the chimes of the cans and hold each can in a fixed position with the major support of the cans being by the top member 1. The primary functions of the banding envelope 26 formed around the can and top member assembly are to hold the outer flanges 7 and 8 down firmly against the surfaces of the cans 16 and to hold the chime rings 17 and 18 abutted. As the cans and top member have positive mechanical engagement therebetween, the main load is hence carried by the top member 1 in the carrier and package assembly 25 of the invention as usually the envelope 26 is not made from sufficiently strong sheet material as to hold the cans firmly by itself. Furthermore, some of such plastic sheets may stretch and loosen slightly under applied stresses.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the present invention where a band 27 extends around a plurality of cans 16a to hold the edge flanges such as edge flange 8a of a top member 1a against these cans. The band 27 in this instance only needs be of sufiicient vertical width to engage the edge flange portions of the top member 1a and retain the edge flanges folded down against the cans and top member 1a for positive engagement therebetween to provide a carrier and package assembly 25a of the invention. Such band 27 can be made from transparent plastic material, paper, rubber, or any other suitable material. By the band extending tightly around the assembly of the cans from end to end thereof, the cans are held against relative longitudinal and vertical movement with relation to each other and the top member 1a.

it will be seen that when either of the carrier and package assemblies of the invention are to be used to release any of the contents thereof, either the very thin envelope 26 should be slit, or torn up along one of the cans, or else the band 27 could be broken and the contents of the assembly then could be readily and individually removed. The cans contained in the carrier and package assemblies of the invention are exposed so the contents are positively identified and an attractive carton is made by the contents themselves. The carton is easily transported and carried, but yet readily openable by the housewife or other person when any of the contents of the assembly are desired.

in view of the foregoing, it is believed that the objects of the invention have been achieved and that a novel and improved but sturdy, inexpensive packaging unit has been provided for cylindrical articles such as cans.

While two complete embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of these particular embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A carrier and package assembly for a plurality of cylindrical objects, such as cans, having laterally protruding chime rings at their upper ends and comprising a rectangular paperboard top means having a downwardly extending longitudinally directed double walled center section and a pair of integral parallel downwardly directed edge sections, each said wall of said center section and the adjacent edge section being spaced about the diameter of said cans for receiving a row of cans therebetween,

said edge sections having longitudinally extending can chime engaging slots therein at longitudinally spaced portions thereof,

a plurality of chime engaging means operatively provided by each wall of said center section in opposed relation to said edge section slots,

a plurality of cans positioned below said top means in a pair of longitudinally extending rows of abuttcd cans with each can having diametrically opposed portions of its top chime ring engaged with a said slot and a said chime engaging means to connect the cans individually to said top means for support the eby, and

open ended heat shrunk endless sheet means operatively and tightly engaging said cans and top means and extending around said cans from top to bottom thereof to retain said top means on and said edge sections against said cans, said sheet means engaging outer end portions of the end cans in said rows to retain said cans forced together into a compact unitary assembly.

2. A carrier and package assembly for a plurality of cylindrical articles, such as cans, having laterally protruding chime rings at their upper ends and comprising a top means having a downwardly extending longitudinally directed center section having a double wall and a pair of parallel downwardly directed Wall's forming edge sections, each said wall of said center section being spaced from an edge section about the diameter of said cans for receiving a row of cans therebetween,

a plurality of cans positioned below said top means in a pair of longitudinally extending rows of cans to provide an assembly thereof,

chime engaging means formed by portions of each wall of said center and edge sections in opposed relation and engaging the chime rings of said cans, and

open ended heat shrunk endless band means tightly engaging said cans and top means and extending fully around the sides, tops and bottoms of said cans in said assembly to retain said cans grouped together into a compact unitary assembly with said top means and to further hold said chime engaging means and cans 1n engagement.

3. A carrier and package assembly for a plurality of cylindrical articles, such as cans, having laterally protruding chime rings at their upper ends and comprising a top means havin a downwardly extending longitudinally directed center section having a double wall and a pair of parallel downwardly directed walls forming edge sections, each said wall of said center section being spaced from an edge section about the diameter of said cans for receiving a row of cans therebetween,

a plurality of cans positioned as a group below said top means in a pair of rows of longitudinally abutted cans with said center section being between said rows,

chime engaging means operatively formed by portions of each wall of said center and edge sections in opposed relation engaging diametrically opposed portions of the chime rings of said cans,

said center section and edge sections terminating adjacent the upper ends of said cans, and

shrunk transparent sheet means tightly engaging the group of said cans and said top means and extending completely around the exposed portions of the sides, and the tops and bottoms of said cans to retain said cans together as a compact unitary assembly with said top means, and to further hold said chime en aging means and cans in engagement in an assembly visible through said sheet means, said sheet means engaging longitudinally outer end portions of the end cans in said assembly to strengthen said assembly.

4. A carrier and package assembly for a plurality of cylindrical articles, such as cans, having laterally protruding chime rings at their upper ends and comprising a top means having a downwardly extending longitudinally directed center section having a double wall and a pair of parallel downward y directed walls forming edge sections, each said wall of said center section being spaced from an edge section about the diameter of said cans for receiving a row of cans therebetween,

a plurality of cans positioned as a group below said top means in a pair of rows of longitudinally abutted cans with said center section being between said rows,

chime engaging means operatively provided on each wall of said center and edge sections in opposed relation engaging diametrically opposed port-ions of the chime rings of said cans, and

open ended continuous sheet means tightly engaging said cans and top means and extending fully around said cans in said group from top to bottom thereof and over said top means to retain saidcans together as a compact unitary assembly with said top means and to further hold said chime engaging means and cans in engagement, said sheet means curving inwardly of said cans intermediate the lower portions thereof to engage said cans and fix them in position in said assembly.

5. A carrier and package assembly for a plurality of cylindrical objects such as cans having laterally protruding chime rings at their upper ends and comprising a rectangular top means having a downwardly extending longitudinally directed V-shaped center section and a pair of integral parallel downwardly directed edge sections,

said top means being of a width about equal to that of a pair of transversely abutted cans and being adapted to receive a row of cans thereunder on each side of said center section,

said edge and center sections having opposed longitudinally extending can chime engaging slots therein,

a plurality of cans positioned below said top means in a pair of longitudinally extending rows of abutted cans with each can having diametrically opposed portions of its top chime r-ing engaged with a pair of said slots to connect the cans individually to said top means for support thereby, and

open ended endless sheet means operatively engaging said cans and top means and extending over said cans from top to bottom thereof to retain said top means on and said edge sections laterally compressed against said cans, said sheet means being heat shrunk to aid in retaining said top means laterally compressed, and to engage said cans at the sides and bottoms thereof to force them together into a compact unitary assembly. a

6. A can carrier and package combination comprising a paperboard top means having a downwardly extending longitudinally directed center section having a double wall and a pair of parallel downwardly directed walls forming edge sections, each said wall of said center section being spaced from an edge section about the diameter of a can for receiving a row of cans therebetween, I

a plurality of cans having top chime rings positioned as a group below said top means in a pair of rows of longitudinally abutted cans with said center section being between said rows,

chime engaging means operatively formed by portions of each wall of said center and edge sections in 8 opposed relation engaging diametrically opposed portions of said top chime rings of said cans, and

open ended continuous heat shrunk plastic sheet means tightly engaging said cans and top means and extending fully around said cans in said group from top to bottom thereof and over said top means to retain said cans together as a compact unitary assembly with said top means and to further hold said chime engaging means and cans in engagement, said sheet means engaging side portions of adjacent ones of said cans in said group to fix them in position in said assembly, and engaging end portions of the sides of the end cans in said group to retain said end cans against longitudinal movement.

7. A carrier and package assembly for a plurality of cylindrical articles, such a cans, having laterally protruding chime rings at their upper ends and comprising a top means having a downwardly extending longitudinally directed center section having a double wall and a pair of parallel downwardly directed walls forming edge sections, each said wall of said center section being spaced from an edge section about the diameter of said cans for receiving a row of cans therebetween,

a plurality of cans positioned below said top means in a pair of longitudinally extending rows of cans to provide an assembly thereof, said top means being shorter in length than the rows of cans,

chime engaging means operatively formed by each Wall of said center and edge sections in opposed relation and engaging the chime rings of said cans, and

open ended heat shrunk endless band means tightly engaging said cans and top means and extending around the sides, tops and bottoms of said cans in said assembly to retain said cans grouped together into a compact unitary assembly with said top means and to retain said edge section walls in engagement with the adjacent portions of said cans, each of said cans being tightly held in engagement with associated portions of one of said center section walls and one of said edge section walls. I

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,111 Cote Jan. 9, 1962 2,124,808 White et a1 July 26, 1938 2,680,039 Burge June 1, 1954 2,740,657 Poupitch Apr. 3, 1956 2,996,180 'iBruce Aug. 15, 1961 3,038,600 Powell June 12, 1962 3,046,711 Harrison July 31, 1962 3,049,282 Chidsey et a1 Aug. 14, 1962 

1. A CARRIER AND PACKAGE ASSEMBLY FOR A PLURALITY OF CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS, SUCH AS CANS, HAVING LATERALLY PROTRUDING CHIME RINGS AT THEIR UPPER ENDS AND COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR PAPERBOARD TOP MEANS HAVING A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY DIRECTED DOUBLE WALLED CENTER SECTION AND A PAIR OF INTEGRAL PARALLEL DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED EDGE SECTIONS, EACH SAID WALL OF SAID CENTER SECTION AND THE ADJACENT EDGE SECTION BEING SPACED ABOUT THE DIAMETER OF SAID CANS FOR RECEIVING A ROW OF CANS THEREBETWEEN, SAID EDGE SECTIONS HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CAN CHIME ENGAGING SLOTS THEREIN AT LONGITUDINALLY SPACED PORTIONS THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF CHIME ENGAGING MEANS OPERATIVELY PROVIDED BY EACH WALL OF SAID CENTER SECTION IN OPPOSED RELATION TO SAID EDGE SECTION SLOTS, A PLURALITY OF CANS POSITIONED BELOW SAID TOP MEANS IN A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ROWS OF ABUTTED CANS WITH EACH CAN HAVING DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED PORTIONS OF ITS TOP CHIME RING ENGAGED WITH A SAID SLOT AND A SAID CHIME ENGAGING MEANS TO CONNECT THE CANS INDIVIDUALLY TO SAID TOP MEANS FOR SUPPORT THEREBY, AND OPEN ENDED HEAT SHRUNK ENDLESS SHEET MEANS OPERATIVELY AND TIGHTLY ENGAGING SAID CANS AND TOP MEANS AND EXTENDING AROUND SAID CANS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM THEREOF TO RETAIN SAID TOP MEANS ON AND SAID EDGE SECTIONS AGAINST SAID CANS, SAID SHEET MEANS ENGAGING OUTER END PORTIONS OF THE END CANS IN SAID ROWS TO RETAIN SAID CANS FORCED TOGETHER INTO A COMPACT UNITARY ASSEMBLY. 